I was introduced to yoga in 1991 and began a regular daily practice in 1993 when I was given a print out of the Astanga primary series while living in Cambodia. I have maintained an active Astanga-based practice for the last eighteen years, through world travel, pregnancies and births, the demands of family and work, and life’s joys and sorrows.

The discipline of yoga has been instrumental in my writing. Not only does it relieve my body of the knots and tightness caused by sitting at the computer for hours every day but it also helps me weather the storms of rejections and rewrites and endure the endless waiting.

My yoga teachers and influences have included Iain Clarke at Paddington AstangaYoga Shala, Graeme and Leonie Northfield, Simon Borg Olivier, Clive Sheridan, Duska Jefed, Natalie Morris, Dave Ridgeway and most importantly my teacher for over eight years, Peter Douglass at Astanga Yoga West End, Boundary Street Yoga, and the Yoga Den. My practice has synthesised these teachings and is active, strong and safe with an emphasis on the importance of breath and core stability. I have over seven years experience teaching yoga at a variety of studios in Brisbane. Last year I ran my own yoga studio but found it was taking too much time from my writing, so now only teach privately.

Except for the upcoming course at the QLD Writers Centre!

I’ll be teaching a six week block combining gentle restorative yoga and easy writing exercises to get your creative juices flowing. It will be held on Tuesday evenings from 5:30 till 7pm starting on the 4th of October. It should be lots of fun. You don’t need to be fit or flexible. You don’t need to have written anything longer than a postcard. But you do need to have a sense of humour and be willing to relax and let go, and see what it’s like writing in that state.

I’m really looking forward to it.

If you or anyone you know would like to give it a go, please contact the Qld Writers Centre at http://www.qwc.asn.au or call 07 3842 9922

I’d love to see you there.